[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 47 (Wednesday, March 11, 2020)]
[House]
[Page H1598]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 WELCOMING REVEREND JONATHAN SLAVINSKAS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the gentleman from 
Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern) is recognized for 1 minute.
  There was no objection.
  Mr. McGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to welcome to the House 
floor my dear friend, Father Jonathan Slavinskas, who offered today's 
opening prayer.
  Father Jonathan, as most of his parishioners call him, is the pastor 
of St. Bernard's Church of Our Lady of Providence Parish on Lincoln 
Street in Worcester, Massachusetts. A lifelong resident of Worcester, 
he is also the police chaplain for Worcester, Auburn, and Southbridge.
  What makes Father Jon so extraordinary is his complete devotion to 
bettering the lives of his parish community, especially the young 
people. He hosts an annual Halloween party for hundreds of neighborhood 
kids so they have a safe place to go trick-or-treating.
  Stories abound of his little acts of kindness, like buying pizza for 
kids hanging out on the church steps or opening up the church gym for 
youth basketball games or making it a point to walk around the 
neighborhood and simply say ``hi.''
  Madam Speaker, Father Jon's compassion and commitment to making 
everyone feel welcome at St. Bernard's--no matter who they are--is 
truly remarkable. He is an inspiration to us all.

                          ____________________